Also, the show could better about sexual representation. Emily St. James is a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. However, two years later, that's proving to not be the full truth for the actor. The second-best part of "Euphoria" is Schafer as Julesa young trans woman playing a young trans woman. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Contact Srishti Bungle at[emailprotected]. While Euphoria 's first season established Cal as an outwardly successful man with a secret life, the second season spent two episodes delving into Cal's backstory and then the breakdown he experiences, which included a spectacular telling off of his family, when he can no longer conceal his identity as a gay man any longer. He is the sole writer and creator of the hit HBO television series Euphoria. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated second season is falling flat and many viewers are noticing why: Levinson writes stories empowered by experiences he does not hold. Rachel Shatto. That makes Euphoria the first trans show to employ a straight male gaze, the term coined by Laura Mulvey and popularized by Soloway. Kira. It really brings people up to their stuff because its not a narrative that theyve seen before. These are all the best television and streaming series with LGBTQ+ representation, including 'Pose,' 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' 'Queer Eye,' and 'Tales of the City.' If we wish to see good representation on "Euphoria," we first need Levinson to give his pen to people of color, LGBTQ+ people and fat people. Just take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and Madonna. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. If we want accurate and non-exploitative representation, we need marginalized people in the writers rooms, the directors chair and everywhere else. Shes a very articulate trans woman and she already understands these things. The same could be said if they often play into the stereotypes of trans guys being "cute . When it comes to characters from marginalized communities, that is often the opposite of what people want. In addition to the dynamics of their friendship and how addiction affects intimacy, Jules is also trying to navigate dating apps, bullying, and identity. Its bonkers because its a 30-second flash of scenes, but it took an hour and a half to do and a lot more time for us to really negotiate. Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. Levinson does not give the character fair time to process, grieve or truly react. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Levinson wrote McKay getting sexually assaulted into the story for it to never be acknowledged and developed or for McKay to heal. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. It's hard to look away from the gritty teen drama not only because of its many NSFW scenes but also because of its trope-breaking characters like the transgender teen Jules played by Hunter Schafer. We have to start somewhere, said Valdez. The second season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres! The only Black male lead character in the first season, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy already an extension of the. In the pivotal scene, Rue came into conflict with Jules because the latter planned to meet with Shyguy118, an anonymous guy she met and fell in love with on a dating app. In terms of representation of people of color in the cast, it can be said that Euphoria is lacking in that department given that the majority of the cast is white, which leaves many of Euphorias non-white audience craving a more racially diverse cast. Their powers combined made my job really easy in that regard. Register *It's free and easy. The fact that its even a question speaks to the depth and breadth of the trans stories finding mainstream success, a reality that would have been unimaginable even five years ago. Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. CN: I have some small clips of some transphobic content in the first half.Patreon: http://patreon.com/verityritchiehttps:. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Twenty-two years after the original release, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men. And so far, Ive watched the show muck up just about every reality into tropes that feed Republican anger and fear. Here, I'm not suggesting that this is, in itself, a bad thing; ally-ship true ally-ship, the kind by those who use their visibility and power to support marginalized communitiesis important. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. Shes white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and passes well. Women and trans women are more than just victims. What I love about [Euphoria] is that it just broke through all of that. This spring, she's the new face of Mugler's Angel Elixir . I said [to Sam Levinson], Jules is the one who gets herself more than anybody else on this show. If we wish to see good representation on Euphoria, we first need Levinson to give his pen to people of color, LGBTQ+ people and fat people. I want to come on and play somebodys Auntie, said Transparent actress Trace Lysette, who is gearing up for the fall release of Hustlers, in which shell feature opposite Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. Being listened to as a trans person is a powerful thing in and of itself. It is filled with breathtaking cinematography, amazing costume design (excuse me while I try and inevitably fail to do some of those incredible makeup looks), and one of the most pitch perfect soundtracks I have ever heard, courtesy of Labyrinth. Weelaunee forest defender Tortugita was killed on January 18. In stark contrast, she has a good relationship with her father, who supported her transition at a young age. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. When she was growing up, Schafer . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through every frame in which she appears. Its raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. In this scant screen time, we see Kat struggle with her self-image and self-hatred a painfully predictable and disappointing storyline for one of the few fat women on television. He is manipulative and aggressive toward his wife, children and anyone who threatens to reveal his sexuality, using his power and wealth to threaten and demean anyone he deems less than him. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities already suffer from Levinsons inadequate writing. Men are so quick to profess their love for cis women. Warning: spoilers abound! I felt really honored to be chosen to take the job, and I think that the moment when it happened was this moment after we were given the first four episodes to read and talk to them about. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When Jules recognized Nate from a photo of his wife and young sons on his phone, she quickly left after their encounter. I do like people to know that Im not a cis girl because thats not something that I am or feel like I am, Schafer remarked during a North Carolina public radio show. Like its name implies, Euphoria is a look into various obsessions, their highs and their sources of abuse or self-destructive behavior that lead to personal pain. Schafer, like Jules, is a trans and queer woman with acute insight into Jules character and what she might be feeling throughout the show by virtue of experience. As Euphorias second season comes to a close, it only seems fitting to comment on the new season. Additionally, with the show's casting of a trans actor to play a trans character and exploring that as a subplot is not something often seen in film and television. It does not store any personal data. I dont come and just put my brand on top of something and say its OK. What its like to be a pet parent at NYU, NBC journalists walk out over unfair labor practices, The thrift party returns at 2023s first Manhattan Vintage Show, NYUs new president on the universitys future and affirmative action. For instance, theres an intimate scene between [Quintessas character, Anna] and [Schafers character, Jules] in episode 7 that was a collaboration with the intimacy coordinator. It has a very negative perception of the LGBT community. Holidays I'm a senior Computer Science major and a Classical Studies minor from Newton, North Carolina with a passion for art. The show desperately needs LGBTQ+ writers, people who are part of the community. That makes "Euphoria" the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. She also was able to transition at 13 and have a safe place to live, and this is not the reality for many trans teens, including myself.. They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. Hollywood encourages drama over reality so Im not expecting much. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". On "Euphoria," the characters' digital and physical lives are constantly swirling around one another, usually in a downward spiral that ends in alienation and self-loathing. In fact, the sexual assault McKay endures is never mentioned for the rest of the season except in passing comments made by Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), his white girlfriend, to her friends. Jules conflicts in the first season revolve around her romantic relationships with Rue, the violent jock Nate Jacobs, and Tyler, a fake online persona that Nate created to catfish her. Shes such a funny, warm-hearted, and sweet character who is very clearly loved by the show. Throwing Elliot in the middle of Rue and Jules's relationship fetishizes lesbians and is queer baiting. In addition to this, the shows characters of color and LGBTQ+ characters suffer from inadequate writing from the shows creator and sole writer Sam Levinson. mental health. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sam did something that I think is really important for artists to think about in telling the very truthful details of his own personal story. trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? I felt really protective of the [trans extras] and was worried that someone was going to misgender them and things were going to become problematic. "Jules is absolutely one of my . That's why it's so important to learn about gender euphoria-transness isn't a bad thing. Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. It seems as though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. Gonna talk about tv and stuff. Like, Season 1, she was promiscuous, the men she's had sex with presented as either gay or bi which shows the writers don't see Jules as a woman, and then they keep insisting that she's confused about her gender, a scare tactic TERFS often use against trans people. Amid gut-wrenching scenes of overdoses and withdrawals is a take on sexual orientation and power dynamics that becomes more questionable as the episodes go on. This is mostly rooted in the shows notable lack of labels. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. Close. January 9, 2022 8:00am. Warning: spoilers abound! 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Jules is absolutely one of my favorite characters on television right now, Clementine Narcisse, a 15-year-old trans girl says, before the show started I was worried because a lot of transgender characters in the media are represented horribly, but I was blown away by her portrayal.. Why is he using his negative views of people like us for this show? 06.18.19. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. Ad Choices, Before the show started I was worried because a lot of transgender characters in the media are represented horribly. It is this freedom to display self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary. Sam took me to the edit booth and showed me the opening to episode 4 where Jules is a child, and its really hard. Its because the writers listened to trans people. Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television. program slammed Euphoria to TMZ, with a representative saying, " Euphoria chooses to misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict high school student drug use, addictionand other destructive behaviors as common and widespread in today's world.". Taylor Swift Tarot Will Help You Understand Your Beautiful Ghosts. Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). Be homophobic and transphobic white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and is queer baiting what people want to be. Clearly stated in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show needs... Is supposed to be homophobic and transphobic on top of the show the of. Cookies to is euphoria good trans representation your experience while you navigate through the website,.. 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